The 9/12 Project cites a level of unprecedented unity following 9/11, and a desire to restore the nation back to "the place we were on September 12th." Beyond its website's limited and naturally selective embrace of the Founding Generation's writings, the 9/12 Project makes an interesting claim worth exploring. Where exactly were Americans as a culture in the wake of September 11th?
Most of these answers could easily command their own diary entries, as could the frankly disturbing statements made by the 9/12 Project. Here is a snapshot of where we were in the days and weeks following September 11, 2001:
We appear to have been more than a little xenophobic. Philip Heymann's article, Muslims in America after 9/11: The Legal Situation offers an excellent synopsis of issues facing Muslims today, but one statistic offered is the most relevant here: the FBI's reporting of an almost 500% increase in hate crimes against Arabs during 2001. The ferocity of this reaction is what makes it unique, not specifically its target, as Muslim-Americans in Oklahoma experienced similar targeting after the 1995 attack in Oklahoma City.
George W. Bush experienced his highest aggregate approval ratings, which would spike again following the Iraq invasion and the capture of Saddam Huissen.
We went to church, temple, and many other spaces to be together. I don't assign a particular religiosity to this short spike in attendance, though I am certain any number of people explored their faith and belief systems at this time.
The American Flag became ubiquitous, as we put it on our cars, houses, and clothing. Art Speigleman discusses this in his work In The Shadow of No Towers, where he compares the proliferation of flags to myths about hanging crosses or garlic on doors to ward away vampires.
Most of us can recall the spontaneous displays in windows, on street corners, but these were expressions of patriotism, ultimately warped by cries of nationalism a few months after. Somehow, the newsprint bearing UNITED WE STAND began to fade, replaced with a divisive, sinister dichotomy.
The Musketeer was the highest grossing film of September 12, 2001, our reading materials were all over the map, and when we weren't watching coverage of the attacks, we tuned into reality porn like Friends. Some of us tuned into The West Wing.
We purchased guns, although not as much as we're doing today as apparently the election of a former constitutional law professor generates a more severe reaction in the gun owning population than terrorist acts. We were afraid. We spent more on defense, stopped flying, and passed the USA PATRIOT Act.
It's true we were united the way the 9/12 Project claims, but with far more than each other as Americans. The incidents of September 11 were a fraction of many terrorist acts in 2001. The day after, we were far from isolated and alone in the world. We had--and continue to have--the ability to form a more inclusive coalition between nations, but Glenn Beck's rhetoric suggests otherwise.